Within applied physics in SEAS a number of faculty conduct fundamental research on soft matter and complex fluids. They study materials highly deformable by externally applied stresses, electric or magnetic fields, or thermal fluctuations, including polymers, liquid crystals, fluids and complex fluids, surfactants, colloids, foams, and emulsions; they study fluid interfaces and avalanches in granular materials and the non-equilibrium dynamics of disordered systems.

Over the past several years a large number of publications have evolved from this research. The following table contains links to a page for each faculty member and a list of publications on soft matter and/or complex fluids (including some publications by faculty outside SEAS) Over 800 papers!

One goal for courses in soft matter and complex fluids is to prepare students to contribute to this research.

Applied Physics 225 : Introduction to Soft Matter.

Ian D. Morrison

Introduction to soft condensed matter, or “complex fluids,” including polymers, surfactants, emulsions, foams, and biological structures. Emphasis is on physical principles that govern bulk behavior. Students will understand the concepts, experimental techniques, and open questions.
Prerequisite: Knowledge of thermodynamics and basic statistical mechanics and some familiarity with phase diagrams and differential equations.